The Breastfeeding In Public Thread!!!

[sam's mum]

Great thread! I didn't know you could get nursing covers, so that's useful knowledge to have now!

I'm not comfortable about the idea of nursing in public either, but I'll just have to see how it goes when LO arrives. ATM I'm think I'll probably just try to find somewhere private, or as private as possible. I don't think I would want to breastfeed in front of family. My dad does not need to see that!

That's how I felt at first too, but nobody ever really sees anything - I'll quite happily feed in a room full of people because people just don't look, and even if they did, once your baby is feeding they won't be able to see anything at all... and the nursing covers are great - you can see your baby but nobody else can:

https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk217/lynnmarkandsam/IMG_8636.jpg

 

[clairebear]

Great thread! I didn't know you could get nursing covers, so that's useful knowledge to have now!

I'm not comfortable about the idea of nursing in public either, but I'll just have to see how it goes when LO arrives. ATM I'm think I'll probably just try to find somewhere private, or as private as possible. I don't think I would want to breastfeed in front of family. My dad does not need to see that!

That's how I felt at first too, but nobody ever really sees anything - I'll quite happily feed in a room full of people because people just don't look, and even if they did, once your baby is feeding they won't be able to see anything at all... and the nursing covers are great - you can see your baby but nobody else can:

https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk217/lynnmarkandsam/IMG_8636.jpg

i used to feel like that but im so not bothered when im at home in front of family and friends now x x

 

[ajarvis]

My sister-n-law had one of those and it's a pretty handy little thing. I never did Ijust covered up the initial latch on and that was it, but having a toddler running around this time I think I may use it to ease my mind lol... we'll see.

 

[Sara]

I used to try covering Indi up in public but found it more hassle and I always worried that he couldn't breathe.
Now I don't care and feed him in public willynilly! My favourite so far has been on the train during rush hour, Indi was screaming and it was the only way to soothe him. I'm sure everyone else on the train would agree that feeding him was better than him screaming!

 

[elm]

I'm hoping to use a ring sling to provide a bit of cover in public, hoping it will work. Think combining it with the two top approach might help!

 

[Linzi]

I dont feel very comfortable feeding in public, and I dont think my OH is keen on me doing it either. Its unfortunate but we've found ways around it

xxx

hey hun how have you found ways around it ? Do you find somewhere private ? Its something I keep thinking about over again but I guess I wont know til I actually brave going out for the day!

If theres somewhere to go then we go there (Mothercare, Asda and Sainsburys round here all have feeding rooms) but otherwise I take expressed milk with me. Ive asked in a few places if they have private rooms and been let into staff rooms and things like that lol

xxx

 

[Sara]

A few weeks ago I was at the library with Indi & my mum. Indi was hungry so I said I'd go outside & feed him on the bench. Mum made a fuss & asked the library women if there was somewhere inside. They got me a chair & faced it into the corner.
I felt more embarrassed and ashamed feeding him in there than I would have outside but Indi WANTED munchies and I felt bad because this old woman had carried the large chair.
Mum knows now to just leave me to it!

 

[Shifter]

If theres somewhere to go then we go there (Mothercare, Asda and Sainsburys round here all have feeding rooms)

xxx

That's handy to know

 

[clairebear]

A few weeks ago I was at the library with Indi & my mum. Indi was hungry so I said I'd go outside & feed him on the bench. Mum made a fuss & asked the library women if there was somewhere inside. They got me a chair & faced it into the corner.
I felt more embarrassed and ashamed feeding him in there than I would have outside but Indi WANTED munchies and I felt bad because this old woman had carried the large chair.
Mum knows now to just leave me to it!

ah thats not nice.

i regulary feed jack on benches if hes gotta eat hes gotta eat x

 

[Lauz_1601]

I dont feel very comfortable feeding in public, and I dont think my OH is keen on me doing it either. Its unfortunate but we've found ways around it

xxx

hey hun how have you found ways around it ? Do you find somewhere private ? Its something I keep thinking about over again but I guess I wont know til I actually brave going out for the day!

If theres somewhere to go then we go there (Mothercare, Asda and Sainsburys round here all have feeding rooms) but otherwise I take expressed milk with me. Ive asked in a few places if they have private rooms and been let into staff rooms and things like that lol

xxx

Thanks for that hun. I was at my dads the other night the whole family were there and she woke and wanted feeding, I went up to my dads room and sat in there for a bit and watched xfactor lol. I did feel a bit strange though, its so much more comfortable and relaxed when your at home xx

 

[mickey]

here the same, after 10 month it is routine and mother and baby are a well trained team! I feed everywhere, even at tesco's and in front of the customer service people at the bank, lol

 

[sam's mum]

here the same, after 10 month it is routine and mother and baby are a well trained team! I feed everywhere, even at tesco's and in front of the customer service people at the bank, lol

The bank is one place I haven't fed, but only because there were a good 50 or so security cameras directly above me (possibly a slight exaggeration but you get my point - was back in the 'start sucking, choke on fountains and get a faceful of milk' stage. I'd do it now) x

 

[ExcitedMum2Be]

So come on girls... there must be a "technique" for getting them on with minimal on show lol. Or tips you can give us... especailly on the mind of matter thing of not letting others put you down and make you feel rubbish when you are feeding your child in public.

It's like today I am taking my 9 week old for his first set of jabs. I know he will cry and get all upset, and when he does that feeding him soothes him. But I do not have the confidence to whip out my boob in the doctors surgery and stick him on.. so instead will be taking a bottle of expressed breast milk for him. Whereas it would be so much easier to breast feed... lol x

 

[Serene123]

I have the same problem with jabs. I want to put her on my boob sooooo badly, but I daren't.

 

[ExcitedMum2Be]

its horrible isnt it that we cant even soothe our babies the way nature intended because of small minded people x

 

[Serene123]

Yep. It's weird because the only people in there are the doctors, nurses, other mums and dads, and our babies. But as all the other mums get out a bottle I have to soothe her by rocking her instead of feeding.

 

[Shifter]

Yep. It's weird because the only people in there are the doctors, nurses, other mums and dads, and our babies. But as all the other mums get out a bottle I have to soothe her by rocking her instead of feeding.

Be proud hun, pop her on your boob and be smug :-D

 

[Whisper]

So come on girls... there must be a "technique" for getting them on with minimal on show lol. Or tips you can give us... especailly on the mind of matter thing of not letting others put you down and make you feel rubbish when you are feeding your child in public.

I would be interested to know if anyone has any good tips.

Amelia is soo noisy just before she latches on, sometimes she screams her head (despite having half my boob in her mouth!) or she makes weird grunting noises. To be honest i think her noises and screaming would be make me more embarrassed than flashing a bit of boob....

 

[clairebear]

we are back at the choke on the milk spray everywhere stage again damn supply x
i just stick a muslin under his head so if he come of i pull it up between his face a boob to cover nipple and stop spray x